Vehicle lighting



Nov. 16, 1937. L. SCHEPMOES VEHICLE LIGHTING Filed April 2, 1935 33 av. I.

A TORNEY; i

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 VEHICLE LIGHTING Lindsley Schepmoes, New Haven, Conn, assignor to The Safety Car Heating & Lighting Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 2, 1935, Serial No. 14,267

8 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting systems more particularly adapted for use in railroad cars or the like and to a method of illuminating railroad cars in an efi'icient manner. I 7

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a lighting system for a railroad car or the like which will be simple, practical and thoroughly durable. Another object is to provide a V I system of the above character characterized by efliciency in operation while being of pleasing appearance. Another object isto provide a system of the above character which may be, economically manufactured from inexpensive materials and with a minimum amount of labor. Another object is to provide a system of the above. character which may be easily installed without materially changing the original structureof the car or the like. Another object is to provide a system of the above character so constructed that individual units thereof may be disassembled with extreme ease for purposes of repair or the like. Another object-is to provide a system of the above character which will utilize in a prac-.

tical and eificient manner an electrical illuminator in the shape of an elongated tube. Another object is to provide asystem of the above character which will distribute an even and p1eas-. ing light on the car ceiling. Another object is to provide a system of the above character which is so suflicient in itself that no exterior wiring or the like is needed. Another object is to provide a system of the above character which takes up a very small space in a car without sacrificing lighting efiiciency. Another object is to provide a method of illuminating a railroad car or the like by the practice of which all portions of the car are furnished with an adequate supply of light. Another object is to provide a method of the above character by the practice of which a car or the like is lightedefliciently at a minimum cost. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing; in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section of the upper portion of a railroad car or the like;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through a preferred form of the lighting appa-' ratus to be utilized in the car shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Similar referencecharacters refer to "similar parts throughout the several views of the draw- As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention, it should be' pointed out that many of the lighting systems now in use in railroad cars or the like are cumbersome, space-consuming and inefficientin oper ation. Such systems are not designed to make use of the maximum number of light units' ob tainable from the particular apparatus and distribute those light units evenly to all portions of the car. Consequently portions of the car will be found to be poorly lighted while other portions are so intensely lighted as to cause discomfort to the passengers. Furthermore these sys-'- terns are characterized by a considerable amount of glare in case the range of vision of the pas senger comes in line therewith. Such systems also utilize apparatus which must be connected up through the usual partitions of a car, thus necessitating considerable labor in wiring and also in repairing if this becomes necessary, The apparatus is often poorly located so that the light is shielded by natural obstructions in the car and does not directly reach the eye level of the passengers. Furthermore the tendency in modern car construction is to reduce weight as much as possible and, as mentioned above, many of the fixtures and apparatus now used for this purpose are much too heavy to be suitable. One of the objects of this invention is to providea system and ,a method of lighting a railroad car or the like which will overcome the above-mentioned difiiculties as well as many others.

Turning first to Figure 1, there is shown a railroad car generally indicated at IU having the usual clerestory II and side walls l2 and I3. Car I0 is also provided with hat supports or the like generally indicated at I4 and I5 as well as other accessories usually found in a modern car of this general character.

The sides I2 and 13 of the car curve inwardly as shown in Figure l and as the construction of both sides of the car is substantially similar that on one side only will be described in detail. Side; l2, after curving inwardly, is bent upwardly, as best shown in Figure 2, substantially 'at right angles to form a shoulder I 2a. Preferably the paratus as will be described hereinafter.

upper end |2b of shoulder |2a is flanged and secured in any convenient manner to the ceiling I6 of the car. Thus the clerestory I I is bordered on both sides by shoulders I2a and |3a (Figure 1).

Adjacent shoulders I2a and I30. I mount lighting apparatus generally indicated at IT and I8, the detailed construction of which will be described more fully hereinafter. Also, I prefer to locate lighting apparatus generally indicated at I9 running substantially along the center line of ceiling I6. Generally speaking, this lighting apparatus preferably runs throughout the entire length of the clerestory and is characterized by elongated tubular illuminators suspended in alignment therealong to form more or less continuous streams of light throughout the length of the clerestory and on both sides and along the center thereof. As will be clear from the description to follow hereinafter, lighting apparatus I'I, I8 and I9 is so positioned as to utilize a maximum number of light units emanating from the individual illuminators.

As the construction of lighting apparatus I'I, I8 and I9 is substantially similar, the details of apparatus I! only will be described in detail. Resting against ceiling I6 and substantially the bottom of shoulder I2a and bridging the space therebetween is a base plate generally indicated at 20. The longitudinal edges 2| and 22 of base plate 20 are preferably so shaped as to fit against the respective portions of ceiling I6 and portion l2a. From the edges 2| and 22 the base plate slopes downwardly and outwardly and is thence formed into a channel 23 having sides 23a and 23b and a bottom 230. Base plate 20 may extend throughout the entire length of the car or may comprise a series of individual units placed in end to end relation thus to achieve a continuous channel 23 for the reception of the lighting ap- Preferably base plate 20 is secured in position by screws generally indicated at 24 threaded into ceiling I6.

As mentioned above, apparatus I1, I8 and I9 is characterized by a plurality of elongated tubular illuminators such as the illuminator generally indicated at 25 in Figure 3. The illuminators 25 are supported in this position. by a plurality of sockets generally indicated at 26 which are mounted at regularly spaced intervals along channel 23 (Figure 2) and suitably secured thereto. Sockets 26 are so constructed that illuminators 25 may be readily inserted and removed therefrom and are so located along channel 23 that the illuminators bridge respective pairs thereof. The bases 21 of sockets 28 are connected by a plurality of cover plates generally indicated at 28 substantially similar in crosssectional dimensions to the bases. Thus cover plates 28 serve to carry conductors generally indicated at 29- leading to the various sockets 26. Cover plates 28 may be secured to base plate 20 within channel 23 and against bottom 230 (Figure 2) in any convenient manner, as, for example, by screws 36 or the like. A more detailed description of the particular type of socket and illuminator which may be conveniently used in this system will be found in my co-pending application, Serial No. 14,266.

As pointed out above, sockets 25 are located at regularly spaced intervals along channel 23 and I provide a series of reflector units, one of which is disposed over and bridges the space between each pair of sockets. That is to say, each refiector unit is designed for use over one of the illurninators 25. Units of this general character are more fully described in. the above-mentioned application. In this instance I provide pairs of bars generally indicated at 30 connected by flange-like reflector members generally indicated at 3| which may be formed from sheet metal or the like. Reflectors 3| occupy planes which are substantially perpendicular to the axes of illuminators 25 and are regularly spaced along bar 30 any distance which is found most suitable for lighting the car most efliciently. Each of reflectors 3| is provided with an indentation 32 so that the reflectors may fit about the illuminators 25. A plurality of spring clips generally indicated at 33 is rotatably secured to cover plates 28 by rivets or the like 34 thus to extend over bars 3|] and hold them in position within channel 23 between the sides 23a and 23b thereof and the sides of cover plate 28. It will thus be seen that the individual illuminators be removed from the sockets 26 by turning the spring clips 33 away from the bars 30 so that the refiector units may be removed from the channel accordingly allowing access to the illuminators.

Although apparatus I9 does not rest against a shoulder, nevertheless, its base plate 20 may be secured to ceiling I6 by screws 24 in a manner substantially similar to that described with respect to apparatus I1 and I8. However, in this instance, bottom 230 of channel 23 is substantially parallel with the floor of the car.

Returning now to Figure l, shoulders |2a and I3a. are so spaced from the sides I2 and I3 of the car that light directly emanating from the illuminators of the apparatus may pass downwardly to strike the side of the car at points below the hat racks I4 and I5 approximately in the vicinity of the eye level of the passengers. That is to say, the apparatus I1 and I8 is so located within the car that illuminators 25 may throw light directly in these directions as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1 without being obstructed by the hat racks or other protuberances at these points in the car. Furthermore, it is to be noted that apparatus I! and i8 is so positioned that the illuminators, with the help of reflectors 3|, may throw light in all vertical directions without obstruction thus to flood the car with light of even intensity. The reflector plates 3| do not hinder the passage of light in Vertical directions throughout the car but prevent any sidewise distribution of light in the car which might produce glare. Under certain conditions I have found it advantageous to eliminate apparatus 9. However, even when this becomes desirable, apparatus I1 and I8 directs light upwardly and outwardly and distributes it evenly over the surface of ceiling I6. Further still, the reflector plates 3| prevent the line of vision of the passenger from contacting the filament of the illuminators.

Lighting apparatus I9, due to its central location, distributes light downwardly in substantially vertical directions thus to illuminate the central portion of the car more effectively.

When the passengers of the car occupy certain positions therein they may be inclined to gaze directly at the apparatus I'I, I8 and I9, this being uncomfortable and under all circumstances can- P not be prevented by reflector plates 3|. ThereforeI prefer to provide translucent strips 35 secured in any convenient manner to the illuminators 25 so that the image of the filament in the illuminator will not come within the gaze of the understood that I do not wish to limit this inpassengers under any normal circumstances. Thus not only have I provided a lighting system are often uncomfortable for the passengers.

Accordingly I have provided a plurality of elongated illuminators preferably running throughout the length of the clerestory and located at spaced points thereacross. Furthermore, I have associated with these illuminators spaced reflectors substantially perpendicular to the ceiling and side of the car, i. e. in planes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dimensions of the illuminators. In this manner the entire length of the car is furnished with a light of even intensity so that a passenger will have sufiicient light regardless of what position he occupies in the car. Furthermore, although light is furnished in abundance by my apparatus, many of the disagreeable aspects of a-well lighted car or the like are eliminated. The reflector plates 3| eliminate a bothersome sidewise distribution of light within the car which is often annoying, causing eye strain and other discomforts. These reflectors also help to keep the filaments of the illuminators concealed from the gaze of the passengers, this result being further accomplished by the provision of the translucent strips 35.

My system has been described as applied to a railroad car or the like. However, it should be vention to such application as many of the features thereof have broader application under certain circumstances.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a thoroughly practical and eflicient system and method for illuminating a railroad car in which the several objects hereinabove mentioned as well as many others are successfully accomplished.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a lighting system for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a roof including a ceiling portion at a level lower than the top of said roof, an intermediate portion between said ceiling portion and said roof and forming an angle with said roof, a supporting member bridging said angle and having flanges secured respectively to said roof and said ceiling portion, a tubular illuminating member detachably associated with said supporting member, a plurality of disk-like reflectors disposed about said illuminating member, said reflectors being spaced from one another, and means detachably securing said reflectors to said supporting member.

2. In a lighting system for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a roof, supporting members secured to said roof and spaced from the sides of said car, tubular illuminating members coextensive with said supporting members and detachably secured-thereto, disk-like reflectors detachably secured to said supporting means and disposed about said illuminating members, said reflectors being spaced from one another, and a translucent shield secured to each of said illuminating members.

3. In lighting apparatus for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a car having a clerestory, elongated illuminators disposed along the oppo: site sides'of said clerestory, a plurality of disklike reflector members detachably fitting about said illuminators at spaced points, the planes of said reflector members being substantially at right angles to the sides and top of said-clerestory, an elongated illuminator disposed along the central top portion of said clerestory, and a plurality of reflector parts disposed along said last-mentioned illuminator at spaced points and at right angles to the axis thereof.

4. In a lighting system for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a car, a substantially concave roof extending over said car, supporting means connected to said roof and spaced to the sides of said car, said means having formed therein a channel portion, an electric conductor conduit disposed in said channel portion, illuminating means secured'to said supporting means and uninterruptedly coextensive therewith, a n d means associated with said illuminating means for permitting dispersion of light transversely of said illuminating means while limiting longitudinal dispersion of light, said last-mentioned means including a plurality of spaced reflectors detachably secured to said supporting means.

5. In a lighting system for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a car, a substantially concave roof extending over said car, supporting means connected to said roof and spaced to the sides of said car, said means having formed therein a channel portion, an electric conductor conduit disposed in said channel portion, illumia nating means secured to said supporting means and uninterruptedly coextensive therewith, and means associated with said illuminating means for permitting dispersion of light transversely of said illuminating means while limiting longitudinal dispersion of light, said last-mentioned means including a plurality of spaced reflectors detachably secured to said supporting means, said reflectors being movably related to said illuminating means whereby the spacing between them may be varied at will.

6. In a lighting system for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a car, a roof extending over said car, supporting means connected to said roof and spaced from the sides of said car, an electric conductor conduit associated with said supporting means, illuminating means secured to said supporting means and substantially coextensive therewith, and means associated with said illuminating means for permitting dispersion of light transversely of said illuminating means while limiting longitudinal dispersion of light, said last mentioned means including a plurality of spaced reflectors secured to said supporting means.

'7. In a lighting system for a railroad car or the like, in combination, a car, means forming an electric wire conduit associated with the ceiling. of said car, an elongated illuminator operatively related to said conduit, a plurality of plate members, means mounting said plate members in spaced parallel planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the illuminator, and means pivotally secured to said conduit and pivotable into a position to engage said mounting means to secure said plate members as a unit in operative relation to said illuminator, whereby the unit may be easily attached to and detached from the conduit without disturbing the illuminator.

'8. In a lighting system for a railroad car or the like, in combination, a car, electric wire conone of said means and pivotable to engage the other of said means to secure said plates as a unit in operative relation to said illuminator, whereby the unit may be easily attached to and detached from the conduit without disturbing the illuminator.

LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES. 

